Spaying, neutering to control animal populations

A staff member at the Carbon County Animal Shelter comforts a young cat housed at the facility. Litters of cats and dogs signal the arrival of the spring and summer seasons. Approximately 40,000 unwanted animals are put to death every year at locations across Utah. About 10,000 of the cats and dogs in question are adoptable. An unspayed cat is capable of having a family of 85 million kittens in 10 years. Unfortunately, unplanned pets frequently wind up at the shelter because residents cannot find homes to take in the pets. Local, state and national animal control officials encourage Castle Valley residents to act responsibly by neutering and spaying pets. Neutering and spaying prevents the birth of unwanted litters, reduces the number of stray cats and dogs and alleviates the mounting problems created in the community by animal over-populations.

Springtime signals the arrival of young animals, especially litters of cats and dogs.

Unplanned kittens and puppies are frequently dropped off at the county animal shelter because the cats and dogs are unwanted or cannot be placed in homes.

Stray animals may also be taken to the shelter by residents hoping that someone will be looking for a lost pet or a new dog or cat to adopt. But many animals left at the shelter are the cats and dogs that nobody wants.

Unfortunately, some animals are forced to struggle to survive after being abandoned in rural areas or unfamiliar neighborhoods.

Unwanted and abandoned animal situations usually occur because the cats and dogs are not spayed or neutered.

Some Carbon County residents may have doubts about fixing pets.

But taking responsibility and having pets neutered or spayed will prevent dogs and cats from being left at the shelter to wait to be adopted or worse - euthanized, pointed out local, state and national animal control agencies.

In Utah County, the method of euthanasia is a carbon monoxide chamber.

In Carbon County, the standard method of euthanizing unwanted animals is an injection of sodium pentobarbital, which is considered as a more humane way of putting an animal to sleep.

Approximately 40,000 unwanted animals are put to death each year in Utah.

About 10,000 of the cats and dogs are adoptable.

An unspayed cat is capable of having a family of 85 million kittens in 10 years.

According to Utahpets.org website, there are many benefits in having a pet spayed or neutered.

Ã¯Â¿Â½Some behavior problems may be resolved by fixing animals.

The behavioral problems include house soiling, marking, spraying, persistent barking or mewing, roaming, escaping and fighting with other animals.

Ã¯Â¿Â½Studies have shown that spaying a female animal before the cat or dog comes into the first heat will reduce the risk of some cancers.

Ã¯Â¿Â½Research indicates that neutering male animals will reduce the risk of prostate cancer when the cats or dogs get older.

State and national animal control agencies also note that many purebred cats and dogs are destroyed in animal shelters yearly because people cannot find homes for the litters of kittens and puppies.